Affiliated societies
We are proud to support the work of university student physics and astronomy societies throughout the UK and Ireland and welcome applications from student societies that wish to become affiliated. Like us, university physics and astronomy societies can be the bridge that enables students to develop as people and make the most of opportunities at university better preparing them for their next steps, wherever that may be.
Why affiliate your society with the IOP?
We support physics university societies around the UK and Ireland by promoting and funding their events, offering advice and, where possible, helping to source speakers. Affiliated societies are key to our student community and it’s our mission to cultivate a thriving community of engaged students promoting physics in society for the benefit of all.
Societies can look forward to the following benefits:
- affiliation grant: we provide £150 to contribute to your society’s activities
- additional funding: for events that promote the wonder of physics and enable participants to gain experience and knowledge related to their studies and career aspirations. Additional grant funding of between £200-£1,000 can also be bid for
- support: advice, signposting and our presence at your events
- FUSE: the opportunity to attend the annual Forum of University Societies Events
- network: join a growing community of university physics societies
- trips: attend a range of networking events including trips to CERN, the UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the annual society’s forum organised by us and a host university from our network
- local community: involve your society in a broad range of outreach and engagement opportunities through the IOP’s student engagement work and local branch network
Affiliation for 2023-24
We are now affiliating societies for 2023-24. Submit your registration via Smart Survey (see guidance notes below).
- Once you have registered via the survey, we will review and process your application shortly afterwards and contact you by email. You will then receive further instructions on how to access support and resources and take part in society network activities.
Guidance notes for society affiliation
- Society affiliation is open to student physics, astronomy, and related societies (e.g. SATS, SEDS, IPAQS, etc.) in the UK and Ireland.
- More than one society from a single university may affiliate, provided each can demonstrate clearly that the specific aims or membership of the society are sufficiently different from any other societies at the same university. Main examples are separate physics and astronomy societies as well as undergraduate and postgraduate societies. Other cases will be decided upon by the IOP.
- In order to become affiliated, societies must complete the application form via Smart Survey. Two named contacts must be given; please ensure contact details are correct. Both contacts must be individual student members of the IOP.
- Affiliation is valid for one academic year beginning and concluding in autumn. Societies must re-affiliate each year. You can affiliate during the second or third term, but your affiliation will conclude at the beginning of the next academic year regardless. The society must contact us if either of the named contacts change.
- Affiliation is a prerequisite to apply for additional funding.
Affiliated Societies Framework 2023-24
A must-read guide for affiliated societies to unlock their potential and access IOP support this year.
Guidance on additional funding FAQs
We answer your queries about funding eligibility for IOP affiliated societies.
Contacts for additional funding applications
For more information on additional funding application guidelines and requirements, please email [email protected] or call: +44 (0) 20 7470 4917.
Affiliated societies
There are three tiers: bronze, silver and gold. University societies in the IOP network self-assesses their performance annually into one of the three categories, determining their status for the year ahead. The following table of societies shows the current status.
| Institution | Society |
|---|---|
| University of Aberdeen | Physics and Astronomy Society Aberdeen University (silver society) |
| Aberystwyth University | Physics and Astronomy – Physoc Aberystwyth (silver society) |
| University of St Andrews | PhySoc St Andrews (silver society) |
| University of Bath | PhySoc (Physics) - University of Bath (silver society) |
| University of Birmingham | Poynting Physical Society (silver society) |
| University of Bristol | Paradigm (silver society) |
| Cardiff University | Chaos Society (silver society) |
| University College Cork | UCC Physics and Astronomy Society (silver society) |
| Trinity College Dublin | DU Physoc (silver society) |
| Trinity College Dublin | Trinity Space Society (silver society) |
| University of Dundee | Dundee University Physics Society (silver society) |
| Durham University | Durham University Astronomical Society (silver society) |
| Durham University | Durham University Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of East Anglia | UEA Physics and Astronomy Society (silver society) |
| University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh University Physics and Astronomy Society (silver society) |
| National University of Ireland, Galway | NUIG Astronomy Society (silver society) |
| University of Glasgow | Glasgow University Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Hull | Hull University Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Kent | PhySoc (silver society) |
| Lancaster University | Lancaster University Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Central Lancashire | UCLan Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Leeds | University of Leeds Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Leicester | University of Leicester Physics Society (silver society) |
| Imperial College London | Women in Physics Society (silver society) |
| King’s College London | KCL Aviation and Space Medicine Society (silver society) |
| King’s College London | KCL Space (gold society) |
| Queen Mary University London | PsiStar (Physics and Astronomy Society) (silver society) |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | Royal Holloway Aerospace Society (silver society) |
| Royal Holloway, University of London | Royal Holloway Physics Society (silver society) |
| University College London | UCL Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Manchester | Nuclear and Particle Physics Society - University of Manchester (silver society) |
| University of Manchester | University of Manchester Physics Outreach (silver society) |
| Newcastle University | Newcastle University Physics Society (silver society) |
| The Open University | Fusion: The Open University Physics and Astronomy Society (silver society) |
| The Open University | Open University Space Society (silver society) |
| Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield Hallam University Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Strathclyde | Strathclyde Physics Society (silver society) |
| University of Surrey | University of Surrey Physoc (silver society) |
| University of Sussex | Q-Soc (silver society) |
| Swansea University | Swansea University Physics Society (silver society) |
| UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space) | UKSEDS (silver society) |
| University of Warwick | Warwick Astronomy Society (silver society) |
| University of Wolverhampton | Physics Wolves (silver society) |
| University of York | York PhySoc (silver society) |
We are currently affiliating societies and will regularly update the list in due course.